Tyson call lifts Royals

READING boss Alan Pardew admitted Nathan Tyson's call-up to the England under-20 squad is a massive boost for the club - but warned the pacy front man there is plenty of work to do.

Tyson has made 12 appearances for the first-team this season, scoring once in the 2-1 win over Derby County at the end of last month - Royals' last victory.

He has been drafted into the England squad for the clash with Germany at Madejski Stadium on February 6.

And the boss said: "He's had a couple of eye catching displays and it is great for the club that he is in the England squad.

"He is by no means the finished article and he's not ready to hold down a regular place in the First Division yet, but then not many 20-year-olds are.

"He's now got a man's body, but he's a bit of a late developer when it comes to his knowledge of the game. He's still learning when to play it short, when to play it long, when to take on his full-back.

"That is normal. It happened with Darius Henderson and Joe Gamble, and in all fairness what he needs is to go out on loan for a season.

"I can't afford to do that at the moment, but if we fall out of the promotion hunt then that is an option so he can gain some experience.

"But playing for the Under-20s is brilliant and it now means there are internationals at nearly every level within our Academy."

Tyson and Henderson, who also came through the youth system, were on target as a Reading reserve side drew 2-2 with West Ham at the Londoners' training ground.

Richard Garcia bagged a brace for the Hammers.

Academy director Nicky Hammond said: "It is a great boost for everyone at the Academy to see Nathan called up and it will give all the boys a real incentive and something to aim for.

"We have a few coming through. Peter Castle is a 15-year-old schoolboy. He played for the reserves yesterday against West Ham and he was outstanding."

Royals have some promising youngsters earning international recognition, with 11 players having made their debuts or been called into development squads.

However, both the under-17s and under-19s team are struggling in their leagues.

But Hammond added "Last week we played Bristol City at under-17s and we had four 14-year-old boys playing while they had eight 17-year-olds and we won the game 2-1.

"The aim is to produce players for the senior team. And the size of our Academy squads means some players are fast-tracked sooner than they would at other clubs."